Earlobe Repair

Earlobe Repair in Pasadena, CA

Earrings are a fashionable accessory that can also cause injuries. Tearing, stretching, or otherwise damaging your earlobes can create highly visible aesthetic problems your local urgent care can’t resolve at the local urgent care. Enlarged piercings or holes created by gauges can be embarrassing and impossible to conceal, making you self-conscious.

If you have damaged earlobes because of an accident or injury, or if you previously stretched your earlobes with gauges and now dislike the gaping holes, you are an excellent candidate for earlobe repair surgery. Earlobe repair at Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena, CA, is a simple procedure.

If you are interested in reversing damage from ear gauges or torn earlobes, request a consultation by calling Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena, CA, at (626) 793-7790 or scheduling an appointment online.

Common Reasons to Undergo Earlobe Repair Surgery

Earlobe Lacerations

Earlobe laceration repair is a sought-after surgical procedure for torn earlobes. This problem can occur if you typically wear heavy earrings that pull down on your earlobes. The tiny pierced hole becomes elongated, and the delicate skin tears.

Enlarged Earlobes

Patients sometimes require earlobe reshaping because their earlobes are too large or asymmetrical. This cosmetic concern is a congenital issue from birth, not something that arises from an injury or gauging.

Earlobe Gauging

Earlobe gauging is a cosmetic trend that involves placing a plug or gauge into a piercing. Over time, incrementally larger gauges stretch the earlobe to the desired size.

What to Expect During Earlobe Repair

The degree of earlobe damage will determine the type of repair necessary. To start, we mark the lobes and administer a local numbing agent for comfort. The restoration is an outpatient procedure, meaning you will return home afterward.

• Earlobe laceration repair: For this procedure, we cut away the skin lining of the split earlobe to produce a new wound. Then, we stitch the ear together to promote healing.
• Earlobe reduction: Patients who select this surgery tend to be older or naturally have larger-than-average earlobes. With age, your skin loses elasticity. In the earlobes, this results in drooping and sagging. An earlobe reduction consists of performing a wedge incision, then reattaching the remaining skin to reduce the earlobe size.
• Gauged earlobe repair: We can reconstruct your gauged earlobes by rearranging the tissue and returning the lobes to their natural size.

Earlobe Repair Recovery

You will feel minimal discomfort after your procedure. Most patients don’t need prescription pain medication and can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil or Tylenol instead. We will prescribe an antibiotic ointment you can apply to the area to prevent infection and promote healing. A tiny amount of drainage from the affected area is normal, but contact your doctor if you notice severe swelling, discomfort, or pus.

You can return to work and resume your usual activities after the procedure. We advise our patients not to have any piercings done for up to six months post-procedure.

Repiercing After Earlobe Repair

You can get your repaired earlobes pierced after they have fully healed – typically, at least six months after surgery. However, your piercer should avoid placing new piercings over scar tissue, as scarring significantly weakens your skin. In addition, you should avoid wearing heavy or dangling earrings that may catch on your clothing for a quicker healing process.

Earlobe Repair Benefits

Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena employs proven techniques to improve your natural ear appearance. Many reasons exist for choosing earlobe repair, and chief among them is to make your desired changes. Whether aging and lifestyle choices affected your earlobe appearance over time or you have always been dissatisified with how they look, we offer you practical options.

Many people choose earlobe repair because they are tired of their earlobes being a distraction. Here are some welcome advantages many of our patients relish after having this surgery.

• Avoid people staring: Torn earlobes or enlarged holes may attract unwanted attention or cause you to miss out on personal and professional opportunities.
• Express yourself: Though wearing heavy jewelry after earlobe surgery is no longer an option, you may choose lighter pieces your restored earlobes can support. For example, subtle hoops or tiny studs may give you an understated, sophisticated look you enjoy.
• Wear shorter hairstyles: If you always wear your hair longer to cover scarring or damage, having an earlobe repair surgery can broaden your options to include shorter styles.

Why Choose Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena?

Our practice is a collection of highly skilled dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons dedicated to providing medical-grade care to men and women at our state-of-the-art facility in Pasadena. To learn more about ear repair surgery, schedule a consultation today.

Earlobe Repair Surgery FAQs

Do I always need surgery, or will my earlobes heal naturally over time?

Typically, if your ears have stretched less than 10 millimeters, the holes will naturally constrict back to a small size. However, gaps larger than 10 millimeters are obvious, and surgery is necessary to repair them.

Is there a limit to what you can fix?

No matter how extensive the damage, we can typically correct it.

How long does earlobe repair surgery take?

The answer varies on a case-by-case basis. On average, damaged earlobes take approximately 15 minutes per ear.